The Defense Department has given the Verdure Award to Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Office of Small Business Programs in recognition of its efforts in promoting small businesses through SPAWAR acquisitions in fiscal year 2015.

The U.S. Navy said Tuesday the Verdure Award is part of DoD’s Vanguard Awards Program which aims to acknowledge individuals and team members that contribute to small business opportunities in defense contracts.

The service branch said SPAWAR OSBP team members are each assigned a point of contact for each program office within the command.

Faye Esaias, SPAWAR director of small business programs, said the integration of OSBP members into acquisition teams helps foster active engagement in procurement processes and advocate small business opportunities.

To further support small business engagement in defense contracts, SPAWAR OSBP has established a procurement center representative office which collaborates with local industry organizations.

They have also developed a tool that will help the government track small business contributions in large contracts.